Previously, on Love bite. 

"Goodnight Luka. I love you."

"I love you too, Sophie Jane."

And just like that, I'm out like a light.

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Now Sophie's P.O.V

Waking up from my nap with Luka about three hours ago, I decided to walk downstairs to my office. There, I have spent almost all that time reading up on the mark of the silver shield and Shelby's situation.

While walking into the living room, the gathering of Ruby Stone wolves didn't cause me any trouble, they just acknowledged me by bowing their heads respectfully. Out of my own respect, I did the same.

I am alone this evening. Luka woke up from his nap around the same time I did, but still being tired from the long battle, he fell back to sleep soon after I left our room, not even feeling like getting out of bed for a while. Not that I blame him.

Hearing Elliot's unforgettable chuckle, I smile, with my nose still stuck in this book. While I've been reading, the same cannot be said for Elliot. He's been in the living room, being an amazing host for the Ruby Stone wolves, and even reconnecting with some of his old pals.

Catching something interesting on the page, I read on. The book of marks is a hardback book with white pages and black letters. On each page, there is a drawing of that mark, along with everything we know about it so far. At this moment, I'm rereading the legend of the silver shield when my eyes caught a line of text, a line that I had forgotten about.

It reads. "Once a werewolf has attained this mark, it can't be harmed by another silver object."

Suddenly being snapped out of my thoughts by someone calling out for me, I bring my nose out of the book and listen. It doesn't sound like anyone I recognize, it must be one of the Ruby Stone wolves.

Walking back into the living room, I spot the wolf in question and walk over. He's a strong but kind looking man. His hair is black, his skin is lightly tanned, and his eyes are a dark brown, still a shade lighter than Luka's though.

"Yes, may I help you?"

"Yes, Alpha Sophie, my name's Jess," he says. "I was wondering, our new Luna hasn't been seen since bringing Alpha Ace up to her room. He's been gone a long time, we haven't heard anything and we're all worried. Do you think you can find Luna, we want to see her?"

He's so worried, I can feel it coming off him in waves, along with the whole pack, I nod.

"Yes, I bet I can find her," I reply. "Don't worry, I'll find out how he's doing for you guys, it shouldn't be that hard. After all, there're only a few places I know she would go at a time like this."

"Thanks, Alpha Sophie."

"You and your packmates sit tight for me, I'll be back in a while."

Walking past Jess, I start to go back upstairs, being careful not to make much noise and wake Luka up.

I decide to check in on my mate. From the other end of the link, I can feel he's on edge and a bit restless in his sleep. I must get to the bottom of this later. Though I may already have a guess. Luka's uncomfortable about Ace being on the same floor as him. Letting out a huff, I push those thoughts aside.

About halfway up the stairs, I start calling softly. "Shelby, Shelby," but no answer. I get to the landing and try again, this time just above a whisper. "Shelby. Shelby, where are you?"

From my left, a voice tickles my ear. "Well Sophie, you don't want to wake both of our mates, now do ya?"

I turn and see Shelby, she looks at me for a second before going back to leaning over the banister, looking out over the bottom level of the house.

"Oh, there you are," I softly remark, walking over towards her. Shelby makes room for me and I join at her side. "So, Shelby, how, uh, how's Ace doing?"

Looking over at me with a look I don't recognize, Shelby replies. "Doing better, he's resting comfortably now, only time will tell if there's any lasting damage or if he'll even pull through."

I nod understandingly.

"What about your end, how's Heather?"

"Very good. She and Cody had twins, a boy, and a girl,"

"I knew something was off. One must've been hiding behind the other. I actually heard the second heartbeat after you pulled the first baby out, that's what clued me in."

Turning my attention back to why I came up here looking for her in the first place, I say. "Listen Shelby, the reason why I came looking for you is, one of your new pack members is really worried, he and the rest of the Ruby Stone pack want to meet you."

"I'm not going down there, Sophie," She replies turning back to face the banister, adding. "Or, at least not yet."

With a look of confusion sprouting on my face, I ask. "Okay, why?"

Before she can get it out of her mouth, I feel the reason come from her connection. Shelby can't hide her true emotions anymore, not with our packs linked like this.

"Because just for the time being Sophie, my attention's going to be focused on Ace and making sure he gets better. Meeting the pack can wait till then"

Feeling that there's more to it than that, I'm about to push Shelby for more, but she shoots me a look saying she wants to change the subject. I decide to just let it go.

"So, I was in my office, reading up on your mark, and found something I wanted to ask you about."

"What?" Shelby asks, turning back to face me.

"Is it true that, since you have that mark, you can no longer be harmed by anything mate of Silver?"

Shelby's face changes completely and she relaxes somewhat. "That's correct, I can no longer be harmed by silver. I know, your aunts tested it." "I mean, she hasn't gone so far as shooting me with a silver bullet, but she has tried. No pain, not even an ounce."

Shelby's face turns shadow again and she sighs. Placing one arm on the rail, Shelby then turns around and looks at me.

"I lost my wolf, and do you know what the worst part of it is Sophie?" "The worst part of it was and is, that I couldn't do anything to help her." "Man, my wolf must've thought I was so useless to her," Shelby adds, after letting out another, this time deeper sigh.

"I might not have told you the whole truth Shelby," says a voice coming from behind us.

Turning our heads in sync, the both of us look and find aunt Sherry standing up against the wall. She starts calmly walking over towards us.

Even though she's my aunt and I love her and all she's done, I'm starting to think we need to put a bell on her.

"How do you mean, Doctor Sherry?"

"I mean, I didn't tell you the whole story," my aunt replies." "At the time, you were too young to understand."

Before Shelby has time to open her mouth, my aunt cuts her off, raising her hand for a moment before putting it back down at her side.

"Before you get mad and start questioning me, let me first explain to you why." Shelby nods. My aunt starts speaking, not holding anything back

"While we were working on you that night Shelby, your heart stopped around five times, the strain on your heart was too strong for it to take. Knowing your heart wasn't going to be able to support the both of you, your wolf did something that was unheard of and separated herself from you, passing on to save you." "So, you've been wrong Shelby, you didn't lose your wolf because you couldn't help her or because you were weak, she gave up her own life, so she could save you." "She sacrificed herself."

Hearing this gives me chills. This is incredible, Shelby's wolf cared about her enough to give herself up for her. What an honorable way to go.

Snapping me out of my thoughts, aunt Sherry continues. 

"After we knew for sure you were going to pull through, we then tried to save your wolf, but it was too late, she was too far gone." "That was why we called your mother in that night Sophie."

"Thought as much," I reply to her with a nod.

Looking down at her watch, aunt Sherry says. "Well, it's about time I head back to the hospital and check up on the wounded." Saying all she needed to say, aunt Sherry walks past us and back downstairs.

"Night Aunt Sherry," I say looking after her.

Turning my head back around, I face Shelby. Her face is pale, almost ashamed. I break the silence and speak.

"Shelby, are you okay?" I ask, sounding concerned.

Her body starts trembling for a moment, then it stops abruptly. "Yes Sophie, I'm alright. Just getting over the shock of what your aunt just told me." Shelby then cracks a grin, her face brightening up again. She lets out a quiet chuckle.

"What's so funny?"

Shelby lets out a slight blush. "Oh, it's nothing Sophie, it's just..." She pauses to think about it for a moment and continues. "All my life, I've been drawn to red, but I didn't know why now I do. " "When I was little, my favorite movie was the Wizard of Oz, but I wouldn't watch it for the movie itself, I would watch it for Dorothy shoes."

"Those ruby slippers."

Shelby nods. "Listen, Sophie, it's getting late, I'm going to turn in for the night."

"I understand," I tell her. "Besides, you should be getting back to Ace, he still needs you to be with him."

"Not to mention, you yourself need to get back to Luka," Shelby remarks.

"You're probably right," I admit to her.

Pulling her elbow off the railing, Shelby walks over and wraps me in a tight hug. For a few moments, we stay there.

"Thanks for helping make this the best day ever Sophie," Shelby says, her voice muffled by my dirty shirt.

With my voice slightly muffled by Shelby's own shirt, I smile and say to her. "Don't thank me, thank Ace when he wakes up. in a way what happened today was his fault, though, I don't think the day ended like he thought it would, but it worked out better."

"True Sophie."

Breaking apart from Shelby, I tell her. "Hey, depending on how Ace's feeling, I may drop by in the morning, see how he's holding up."

Smiling, she replies. I think he'd like that." "Oh, and tell the Ruby Stone wolves downstairs, I'll see them tomorrow."

Pulling away from her, I nod. "Okay, I will."

Turning to face downstairs, I start to walk away but when I'm only a few feet away from her, Shelby stops me.

"Wait, Sophie," she says, looking after me. I turn back around to face her. "Just a thought, one friend to another, you might want to change your shirt before bed."

"Yeah thanks, I will," I reply, about to leave it at that, but being in a jokey mood, I just can't help myself. "The delivery of the twins went really well, can't you tell by looking at the condition of my shirt, Shelby?" I then ask playfully.

"Goodnight Sophie," Sophie replies, turning on her heal and walking back down the hallway/"

Chuckling slightly, satisfied that I got the last laugh, I start making my way back downstairs.

As soon as my foot lands on the bottom floor, all the heads in the room turn in my direction. Jess comes over towards me with two of his packmates, their faces looking more worried than they were before.

"What's the word, Alpha Sophie? What's the news?"

"Okay, firstly. I spoke with your new Luna, and she won't be coming down tonight, she's busy looking after Alpha Ace, but she instructed me to tell you guys that she'll be coming downstairs in the morning."

Jess nods and replies. "That's understandable, Alpha Sophie, the wellbeing and health of the Alpha always comes first."

"As for Alpha Ace, he's resting now with his mate by his side, " I then tell the three of them, and it's as if the whole room sighs in relief.

"Oh, thank heavens," Jess says, he then adds. "That's some really great news."

"How bad was his condition, Alpha Sophie?" One of the wolves at Jess's side asks.

"Well, it was touch and go, your new Luna actually had to mark him right out of the gate in order to save him."

At the mention of his new Luna, Jess speaks up and asks me. "Is there anything you can tell us about her, Alpha Sophie? Anything at all?"

"Boy, can I..." I reply trailing off, unable to finish. There's just so much I could tell them about her, where do I start? What do you say about a girl that you've known for years and years who you're just now getting to know? "All I can say is, you're lucky to have her as a Luna. She truly deserves it."

"That's good to hear, Alpha Sophie." " And When Luka comes of age here in a few more months, I'll bet he and this pack will be as lucky to have you as their Luna as ours."

Hearing this fills my heart with gratitude. With my face and ears turning a light shade of pink, I smile and say. "Thank you, how sweet."

"Don't mention it, Alpha," Jess replies smiling.

"Alright. Well, I'm going upstairs for the night, you guys should too, it's getting late."

"That won't be a problem, a few of our pack members have already turned in for the night, they're settling in quite nicely."

"Well, that's good to hear, " I remark. I then feel a tap on my shoulder and break out into a smile. "And speaking of settling in for the night." I turn around and see Elliot standing behind me. Before he even gets the words out of his mouth, I answer his question. "Yes Elliot, you can spend the night."

"Yes." "I call dibs on the couch," Elliot says, speed walking over to the couch and claiming his spot for the night.

"Well okay, I guess I'll see you guys in the morning," I say starting to walk up the stairs.

"Night, Alpha Sophie," Jess says after me, and then a few seconds later, a few more Ruby Stone wolves join him,

Reaching the top of the stairs, I reply. "Goodnight everyone."

Taking Shelby's advice and changing my shirt, not just that, I also take a shower along with it. Walking out of our bathroom in my clean nightwear, I stroll over and get in bed, Luka wrapping his arms around me.

Rolling over in my mate's grasp, I look at him. Luka's eyes are closed as if he's asleep, but his face is scrunched up. My mate's still restless. There's something else bothering him. I can feel it, but I can't figure out what it is.

But for now, I drift off to sleep with one last fleeting thought in my mind.

I'm just glad I didn't lose my former Omega.

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This is it guys, the final stretch.  These are the final few chapters of Love Bite, and to be honest, I'm not sure what's entirely going to happen. I feel like this whole book has been nothing but twist and turns, and guess what, there's still a few coming. To see what they are and how it all ends stay tuned.

What do you think's wrong with Luka? Why is he so restless al of a sudden?

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